The time has now shifted to a certain day in April 2024.
I visited a sewing company in Ishikawa Prefecture and would like to share my experience there.
The items that are sewn here are bags, aprons, pencil cases, pouches, etc. made from canvas fabric.
I've been wanting to visit for a long time, but it's actually quite far away so I've never been able to make the decision, but now that I've decided to go, it's a good day to do so.
I had been emailing Mr. Sakamoto, who is in charge of the event, to discuss the schedule for a while, and I thought, "Hey, you can go tomorrow, right?" When I contacted him, he said it was OK, and we suddenly made an agreement lol.
Me: "This may seem sudden, but I'll come tomorrow!"
Sakamoto-san: "Yes, please."
Mr. Sakamoto is always so flexible...thank you (tears).
I immediately bought a Shinkansen ticket, quickly found and booked a hotel, and headed to Kanazawa.
My first time on the Hokuriku Shinkansen!! So cute - blue and yellow!
The Shinkansen was almost full, with what appeared to be inbound tourists and people on business trips.
We arrived in Kanazawa! I was prepared for it to be cold, but it wasn't that cold. It was about the same temperature as in Tokyo. Phew.
The roads and sidewalks in front of Kanazawa Station are incredibly wide, and six adults can walk side by side on the sidewalk with ease. I really felt how narrow the city center is. It's easier to breathe when there's a lot of space.
It's so spacious!!
From Kanazawa Station, I changed to a local train (one or two trains per hour) and headed a little further north. It took about four and a half hours one way from Yokohama!
Mr. Sakamoto picked us up in his car in a peaceful spot in front of the station.
Apparently there are many soft, cloudy skies like this.
After lunch (Just between you and me... I had a seafood bowl for lunch. The seafood in Kanazawa was the best! Hehe. Thank you for taking me.)
From there, we drove a little further and arrived at the company! It was like a field trip, and everywhere was full of interest.
Ishikawa Prefecture is known for the earthquake that occurred on New Year's Day. By the 5th, most of the water supply in this area had been restored, and all of our employees and their families were safe... I was relieved to hear that.
Now, let's take a step by step look at how it's made!
This is the cutting machine. We spread the fabric out on this large table and cut it.
I guess this is the size you need. The fabric is heavy so it's hard work.
This man, Mr. Sakai, also cuts AMONG items. He placed the pattern and drew lines.
He was very kind and showed me lots of things!
This is also a cutting machine. It seems to be used for small parts. It looks like the electric saw we used in woodworking class. We layer the fabric and cut it.
Then it is sewn into a bag or apron.
There were a row of sewing machines lined up.
This is a commercial sewing machine. Thanks to this machine, I can sew thicker fabrics such as No. 8 hump. The base of the handle and the overlapping parts of the pocket are very thick and hard, so I need horsepower!
A huge amount of yarn! Because they have so much in stock, you can choose the yarn that will match the color of your bag best. It's so colorful and exciting!
This is a machine that can put logos, letters, and patterns on fabric, though we don't use it at AMONG. I guess you need a lot of large equipment to sew. And you need space!
I also found the AMONG fabric section. It was here that I first encountered strawberry patterns, and I was so relieved to see how cute they were!
Looking at the fabric itself like this, you can tell at a glance how much of each item you have.
We also had some bags waiting to be shipped!
This is a shoulder tote with a "Banana" pattern and a " Kanna" pattern .
The bright colors are perfect for the upcoming season. It holds a lot and is easy to use!
Finally, the process is called "needle inspection," where a machine (essentially a metal detector) is used to check for any broken needles left behind, and the process is finally complete.
So that's how they end up being made into bags and aprons and delivered to AMONG. I'm glad I came to see it!
Mr. Sakamoto (left) and Mr. T, who always help us out. They draw out patterns and plan the process to give it shape.
I am truly grateful that you are always flexible in sewing just the shapes and quantities I need, little by little.
At the end, we were able to check on the items that were in the middle of being made and to see samples of products that we could make. I was grateful for the side talk that I couldn't have had in a normal email or phone conversation!
The cherry blossoms were still in full bloom. A variety I'd never seen before! They were lush and beautiful.
Behind the AMONG items are companies, people, and a landscape that is involved in such a way in such a place.
I hope that when you hold it in your hands, you will be able to feel this same calm atmosphere.
I hope that the joy of using, choosing and giving will increase even more!
Once again, thank you for showing me around despite your busy schedule!
Well then! (Kurisawa)
---------------------------
< Pop-up shop schedule where you can actually get your hands on the products>
●《Matsuya Ginza 3F》 6/12(Wed)-6/18(Tue) 11:00-20:00
●《Odakyu Department Store Fujisawa 1F》 6/12 (Wed) - 7/9 (Tue) *Only some items
●《Gallery Filmo》6/25(Tue)-7/1(Mon)
Fuji Building 1F, 5-1-13 Minami-Karasuyama, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo (5 minutes walk from Minami-Karasuyama Station)
11:00-19:00 (First day 13:00- / Last day -17:00)
